Encorafenib (Braftovi)

28 February 2023

This patient-friendly review is about the anti-cancer drug Encorafenib (Braftovi); it is a kinase inhibitor currently used for Colorectal cancer and Melanoma.

Encorafenib is taken as a capsule by mouth, with or without food once daily at around the same time. Do not take more or less of it.

Encorafenib is a ‘Kinase Inhibitor’.There are a number of ‘kinases’; these are enzymes which cause changes to the way your cells work. Kinases often produce more rapid cell division as is common in cancer, and a kinase inhibitor aims to restrict this.

You should not consume grapefruit, pomelo or large Seville oranges or drink grapefruit juice when taking this drug - see here.

Encorafenib Uses

Encorafenib is currently in Clinical trials for use with several cancers.

The original approval by the FDA was for -

Colorectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It is used with cetuximab in adults who have received previous treatment.
Melanoma. It is used with Binimetinib in patients whose cancer cannot be removed by surgery and/or has spread to other parts of the body.

Supplements and drugs

There are a number of supplements where research indicates synergistic activity -

Turmeric is also known to inhibit Kinases (1) and can he;lp improve this drug’s effect.
Berberine appears to prevent the build-up of kinase drug resistance (2).
Honokiol inhibits a number of kinase pathways (3).

Warning

Hypokalemia or (low potassium level) or. Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium level)—These conditions must be corrected first before using this medicine. Kidney disease, severe or. Liver disease, moderate or severe may result. The effects may be increased because of the slower removal of the medicine from the body (4).

Side-effects

Encorafenib may cause side effects. For example -

Fatigue, fever, nausea, constipation, vomiting, stomach pain, poor appetite, headache, dizziness, skin thickening, rashes or acne, dry or itchy skin, hair loss, joint or muscle pain, change in taste, muscle pain and numbness, ,tingling in hands, feet, arms or legs, sleeping difficulties,

More serious side-effects include -

Dizziness, fainting, vision changes, a wart, a sore or reddish bump that does not heal, a change in the size or colour of a mole, unusual bleeding or bruising, black, tarry, or bloody stools, coughing up blood, nose bleeds, skin peeling of hands and feet. In these cases consult your Doctor immediately.

Box - APPROVED BY MEDICAL BOARD

Go to: 10 ways to improve your chemotherapy and reduce side-effects

Other articles that you may find interesting are:

Go to: Return to the CANCERactive drug list

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References